Stem Cell Research

By: Kendall Thompson, Brianna

Roth, Maya Ahluwalia, Keylee
Spang

What are Stem Cells?

Undifferentiated cells
Capable of giving rise to more
identical stem cells
Can also create specific cells of
somatic tissues (can become any
type of cell)

How do they work?

Embryonic: When a newly fertilized egg begins to divide, these have
the potential to become any kind of cell in the body because theyre not
specialized yet.

Adult: these are more limited than embryonic cells because they are
already specialized. They reside in already developed tissues and act
more like a repair system to divide and take place of dead or lost cells.

Types of Stem Cells

Embryonic
1.

Can only come from pre -implanted

embryos
2. Not from eggs fertilized in a woman's
body
3. Are able to become any adult cell
when directed (pluripotent)
4. Have been studied for 30 years, still
havent been able to treat people with them
yet.

Types of Stem Cells Cont.

Adult (Somatic)
1.

Found among differentiated cells in an organ or tissues

2.

Main job is to renew the tissue where it is found

3.

Very little amount, capacity to divide is limited

4.

Difficult to obtain large amounts, which is needed for any type of treatment.

Why do scientist do this?

Currently scientists are able to use stem cells in bone marrow transplants
(to treat blood disorders and diseases) and skin grafting (to treat severe
burns)
Recent advances with embryonic stem cells (still in the research phases)
include: degenerative brain diseases, blindness, creating synthetic blood,
cancer, cartilage damage, diabetes, hearing loss, heart disease, infertility,
organ replacement, and spinal cord injury.

How is it done?
http://youtu.be/i5n4Q4hyLV4
Scientists remove the inner cells that would
normally form the placenta, then they put
them into a petri dish; most of the cells don't
survive but those that do grow into colonies.
They start to self renew and continuously do
so thus becoming immortal in culture.

Legality Issues

Under the George W. Bush Administration, federal

funding for embryonic stem cell research was
federally funded only if the stem cells were
obtained from a limited number previously existing
stem cell lines.
Under The Obama Administration, executive
action was taken to expand federal funding for
stem cell research, by permitting the use of
embryonic stem cells other than those obtained
from the previously designated stem cell lines.
Because Obama took executive action, there
currently is no legislation to back up his action,
thus it permits future administrations to eliminate
federally funded research.

Legality Issues

The Stem Cell Research Advancement Act would codify the stem cell rules
that were set out by President Obamas executive action, and would
prevent future administrations from restricting or eliminating federal funding
for stem cell research.
The Act would allow use of embryos for research that were not going to be
used for in vitro fertilization
Rep. Diana DeGette is the sponsor of the bill. The bill has not yet passed.

Pro Stem Cells

Embryonic:
1.

Potentially help lead humanity closer to better treatment and possibly cure
for a number of diseases. (Parkinsons, Alzheimer's, Diabetes type 1,
Reduced risk of transplantation).

2. Belief that if someone is going to have an abortion, isnt it better that we

use it for something useful?
3.

Help replace and repair damaged organs.

Pro Stem Cells Cont.

Adult:
1.

Bone marrow transplants in treating cancer (leukemia, multiple myeloma,

and lymphomas).

2.

Research now open for regenerative and reparative therapeutics.

3. Clinical trials such in skin and wound healing, orthopedics, scleroderma,

and congestive heart failure.

Anti-Stem Cell
Embryonic
1.

Critics question the morality of taking parts of human cells, and

using them for the benefits of others.

2.

Believe that taking any cell that can possibly become an embryo
is cruel and unjust

3.

Doctors shouldn't be playing the role of God

4.

This does not happen naturally, therefore should not be done.

Anti-Stem Cells cont.

Adult
1.

Issue with quantity, need mass amounts for efficient stem therapy

2.

Getting adult cells isolated is very difficult to do

3.

These cells are not as dependable (older, greater chance of mutations in

DNA)

4.

Cells are less flexible, its more difficult to get them to turn into the specific
type of cell needed for therapy

Anti Stem Cell Groups

1) Anti-Abortion groups
2) Christian Coalition
3) National Right to Life
Committee
4)US Conference of
Catholic Bishops
*Mostly all Religious
and anti- abortion
groups.

Cost of Stem Cells

1.

Currently extremely expensive and only available to rich countries and rich population.

2.

Estimate that for every 50-100 eggs it would cost $100,000-$200,000.

3.

The more popular and standardized the procedures and research become, the less it will cost.
(bone marrow transplants used to be rare and expensive, now they are routine procedures)

4.

In California, they voted to spend 3 billion dollars on research over a 10 year period of time, this
is already paying off. Providing jobs and research to treat people with stem cells.

Class Questions

Do think it is ethical to use embryonic stem cells for research? Are

using adult stem cells ethical?

Since the embryonic cells havent developed enough to even become

an embryo, is it still considered taking away a babies life?

Do your opinions differ when it comes to abortion pro-life v. stem cell

pro-life?

Does the potential benefits of stem cell research outweigh the

potential costs?

Sources

Tabuerer, Joshua. "Stem Cell Research Advancement Act of 2013 (2013 - H.R. 2433)." GovTrack.us. Civil Impulse, LLC,
n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.
"Research! America." Stem Cell Research. Research!America, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2015.
https://explorable.com/stem-cell-pros-and-cons
http://www.neostem.com/about/adult-stem-cells
"Recent Advances in Stem Cell Research | Genetics Policy Institute." Recent Advances in Stem Cell Research | Genetics
Policy Institute. Genetics Poicy Institute, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2005/05/federal-stem-cell-research-what-taxpayers-should-know
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1083849/